MUMBAI: Senior RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi‘s remark at a function in Ghatkopar that knowing Marathi was not necessary to live in Mumbai stirred a political controversy on Thursday, with the opposition MVA criticising him strongly and demanding to know if the state govt agreed with him. While CM Devendra Fadnavis said in response that Marathi is the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra and anyone who lives here should learn and speak it, Joshi himself said later that his comment had been misconstrued and that “Marathi is a part of the state’s culture and identity, and it is the duty of every citizen to learn it.”
Speaking at a programme on Wednesday evening, Joshi said those coming to Mumbai need not learn Marathi. He also said Gujarati is “the language of Ghatkopar.”The statements invited criticism from the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress. Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded Joshi be booked for treason for his remarks, and in the state assembly, and the party’s MLA Bhaskar Jadhav sought an explanation from the govt. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar said, “The language of Mumbai is Marathi” and demanded the govt state its stance on the controversy. In the legislative council, opposition leader Ambadas Danve attacked the govt, asking it, “Do you endorse Bhaiyyaji Joshi’s statement?” The council was adjourned for ten minutes as opposition MLCs demanded that chairman Ram Shinde accept their demand for a discussion on the issue. When the House reassembled, Congress’ Bhai Jagtap slammed the govt, stating it seemed to have forgotten the “Hutatmas” who sacrificed their lives for formation of the state on linguistic lines. Later, opposition MLCs staged a walkout in protest.
In the afternoon, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray went to Hutatma Chowk with all his MLAs and MLCs to protest Joshi’s statement.
Following the uproar, Joshi issued a video statement. He said, “Due to one of my statements, a misunderstanding occurred. There is no question of the language of Mumbai not being Marathi. The language of Maharashtra is Marathi. Mumbai is in Maharashtra, and naturally, the language of Mumbai is Marathi. Different languages are spoken in India. People speaking different languages live in Mumbai as well. So, it is a natural expectation that they should also come here and learn Marathi, understand Marathi, and read Marathi. I think that this is a great example of coexistence, that people speaking so many different languages in India live together. I think that Mumbai is also an ideal example of this. But there is a natural expectation that a person coming to Mumbai should understand Marathi, speak Marathi, learn Marathi, and read Marathi. This is the only expectation. I have nothing more to say than this… My mother tongue is Marathi. But I also respect the existence of all languages… I request everyone to see it from the same perspective.”Fadnavis said in the assembly, “I haven’t heard what Bhaiyyaji said, but the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra is Marathi. Everyone should learn Marathi and should speak the language.”